12 HABITS OF THE ROBIN 



rule, at least, there is a replacing of one set of individuals by 

 another ; so that, though the bird as a species may be resident, 

 the birds individually have obeyed the migratory impulse. Wide 

 as the Eobin's distribution is, the limits of its summer and 

 winter residences are comparatively little narrower. Its breed- 

 ing-range extends from Arctic America to the Alpine regions 

 of Mexico j its winter home, from the Northern States to Cen- 

 tral America. It is a hardy bird, capable of enduring cold to 

 the freezing-point of mercury. Thus, it will be seen, the bird 

 is "resident "in one sense throughout the greater portion of 

 its range. Nevertheless, the general migration favors its pres- 

 ence in greatest numbers in the Southern States during winter, 

 and in the Northern during the summer. 



The Eobin is a great eater of berries and soft fruits of every 

 description 5 and these furnish, during the colder portions of 

 the year, its chief sustenance. Some of the cultivated fruits of 

 the orchard and garden are specially attractive ; and no doubt 

 the birds demand their tithe. But the damage done in this 

 way is trifling at most, and wholly inconsiderable in compari- 

 son with the great benefit resulting from the destruction of 

 noxious insects by this bird. The prejudice which some per- 

 sons entertain against the Eobin is unreasonable; the whole- 

 sale slaughter of the birds which annually takes place in many 

 localities is as senseless as it is cruel. Few persons have any 

 adequate idea of the enormous the literally incalculable 

 numbers of insects that Eobins eat every year. It has been 

 found, by careful and accurate observations, that a young 

 Eobin, in the nest, requires a daily supply of animal food equiv- 

 alent to considerably more than its own weight! When we 

 remember that some millions of pairs of Eobins raise five or six 

 young ones, once, twice, or even three times a year, it will be 

 seen that the resulting destruction of insects is, as I have said, 

 simply incalculable. I have no doubt that the services of 

 these birds, during the time they are engaged in rearing their 

 young alone, would entitle them to protection, were the parents 

 themselves to feed exclusively upon garden-fruits for the whole 

 period. But at this time the diet of the old birds is very 

 largely of an animal nature ; nor is this the only season during 

 which the destruction of insects goes on. Upon the first arrival 

 of the main body of the birds early in the spring, long before 

 any fruits are ripe, they throw themselves into newly-plowed 

 fields, and scatter over meadows, lawns, and parks, in eager 



